Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 317: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources further to Parliamentary Question No. 408 of 19 December 2007, if he will define what is meant by a reasonable request under the national broadband scheme; the criteria that will be used to assess the reasonable nature of the request; the person who will make these requests to the national broadband scheme for this service; if it will be local authorities, public representatives, community associations, local enterprise boards or individuals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4229/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The procurement process for a National Broadband Scheme (NBS) is under way. The NBS will provide broadband services to areas that are currently unserved and will ensure that all reasonable requests for broadband in unserved areas are met.

The first phase of the procurement process (Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ)) is now complete, and four candidates pre-qualified to enter the next phase of the procurement process. The four candidates were, in alphabetical order, BT Communications Ireland Ltd Consortium, eircom Ltd, Hutchinson 3G Ireland Ltd and IFA/Motorola Consortium.

Following the withdrawal of the IFA/Motorola Consortium as a candidate the remaining three candidates have now commenced 'Competitive Dialogue' with the Department and are developing their proposed solutions to meet the Department's requirements for the delivery of broadband to the unserved areas of the country.

The determination as to what constitutes a reasonable request is currently being considered in the context of the overall requirements, which form part of the procurement process for the supply of broadband services under the NBS. The three candidates are considering a requirement to meet all requests for broadband coverage and the cost of meeting such a requirement. My officials will continue the competitive dialogue process on this and other requirements over the coming months. It is expected that all requirements will be finalised in advance of the issuing of the Invitation to Tender in April 2008.

Any individual or body, whether public or private, in a NBS covered area will be able to request a product from the winning service provider. It is anticipated that a preferred bidder for the scheme will be selected and appointed in June 2008.